It’s 7:30 race day morning on San Diego Bay as the cargo doors of the Lord Hornblower open establishing the starting line of the inaugural JUMP!! Aquathlon. There is only one way to start the inaugural USAT sanctioned aquathlon and that is to JUMP!!

Sunday June 23, 2013, San Diego based Dolphin Safe Events and presenting sponsor the Triathlon Club of San Diego are adding the most unique event to the local southwest’s multisport calendar. As long time officers and members of the Triathlon Club of San Diego the founders of Dolphin Safe are adding an exciting public event to the aquathlon tradition started by the club for its members many years ago.

In its first year, the JUMP!! Aquathlon is bringing to San Diego’s south bay a new event unlike any other in the southwest and one of only a handful of boat start events nationwide. The 1500 meter swim starts with the athletes jumping off of the Lord Hornblower which will be anchored offshore from the finish line in Bayside Park allowing spectators to watch the start from shore. The athletes will swim a rectangular course in the protected calm waters of the San Diego Bay and come ashore at the Port of San Diego’s beautiful Bayside Park where they will transition to start their 10K run.

The spectator friendly 3 lap 10K run takes place entirely within the area around the Chula Vista marina providing the athletes and spectators with the all the natural beauty offered by the San Diego Bay. However, the race directors don’t expect too much sightseeing by the athletes, as this flat and fast course will be perfect for some very fast 10k times.

“In the last several years the San Diego triathlon calendar has become crowded with a number of new, yet similar races. After producing the first of its kind 2.4 mile Tiki Swim which starts at the Oceanside Pier and finishes in the Oceanside Harbor and is the only time swimmers can swim into the Oceanside Harbor from the open ocean, I looked for other opportunities to do something that was not being done,” said Brian Long who along with John Hill founded Dolphin Safe Events.

“Additionally, we knew that there was a pretty large group of athletes that do not look forward to beach style surf starts, so our athletes won’t have to worry about surf, currents, kelp or critters, but there will still be some excitement.”

“We met with James Unger of Hornblower Cruises in San Diego as well as the representatives of the Port of San Diego and found nothing but solid support. We are looking forward to a long and beneficial relationship which will highlight the Hornblower Cruise experience as well as the great work the Port of San Diego is doing balancing the industry, recreation and ecological needs of our beautiful water front. With any luck, this partnership will lead to hosting a USAT National Aquathlon Championship in the not so distant future”.